Holidaysafe Travel Insurance Blog

Mothering Sunday

2010-03-09T16:58:00.010Z

If you are taking your mum out for a meal or buying flowers this
Sunday 14 March , are you aware of some of the reasons why?

Here are some very interesting “Mother's Day” facts

Mothers day is also known as Mothering Sunday, or Refreshment Sunday or Mid-Lent Sunday,
Mothers day in the UK is held on the 4Th Sunday (which is the middle Sunday) of Lent. (The period of fasting before Easter

Members of the working classes were often given the weekend off in the middle part of lent to visit their families, which eventually became associated with the bringing of gifts home to their mothers, especially flowers or a fruitcake called a Simnel cake. A simnel cake is a fruit cake with Marzipan on top , usually with 12 balls on top to represent the 12 apostles who betrayed Christ.

Ingredients for Simnel cake

Ingredients
300g/10oz self raising flour
1/2 teaspoon mixed spice
110g/4oz butter or margarine
110g/4oz brown sugar
2 tablespoons of golden syrup
350g/12oz mixed dry fruit
2 eggs
approx. 100 ml milk to mix
700g Marzipan
2 tablespoons of icing sugar for decoration

Method:
Rub the margarine into the flour, Add all the dry ingredients i.e. sugar, spice and dried fruit. Stir well.
Add eggs and golden syrup
Add milk to form a soft mixture
Stir well and combine the rest of the ingredients
Grease a round 8 inch tin
Place half the mixture in the tin. Roll out one third of the marzipan.
Lay the marzipan on top of the mixture. Add the remaining mixture on top
Cook on gas Mark 3 `150 C 325 F for just over an hour
When Cooled for a short time turn the cake out onto a wire rack
Allow to cool thoroughly mix icing sugar and spread on the top of the fruit cake for the marzipan to stick.
Then with the remaining marzipan make up 12 balls and stick with icing sugar.

As well as a cake and flowers if you decide to take your mum away as a mother's day gift, You can buy travel insurance for as little as £9.28 for a week away to Europe including Spain for a quote or to buy travel insurance please visit http://www.holidaysafe.co.uk/

Get Away from the Daily Grind

2010-03-02T16:00:00.017Z

Irritability within the office can cause a simple day’s work to become a chore and an effort.
According to a recent poll of office workers, many felt frustration at IT, irritating staff, useless printers, unproductive meetings, smelly co workers and office gossips one of the most annoying is an intolerable increase in the use of “office Jargon.”
Which may include any one of the following:

Thinking outside the box
Lets touch Base
Blue-sky thinking
Blame storming (sitting down and working out whose fault something is)
Drill down to a more granular level (Look into something in more detail)
Lets not throw pies in the dark (we need a plan rather than a haphazard approach)
I’ve got that on my radar
Push the envelopes
Bring your A-game (Be ready to do something to best of ability)
Get all your ducks in a row
Go the extra yard!
Proactive

And probably one of the worst (but the best) Low-hanging fruit – (Targets or goals which are easily achievable but do not require a lot of effort.

Then we have the usual annoyances:

Crisp munchers
Loud coffee slurper’s
Annoying mobile ring tones
The bosses voice
Personal Phone calls
Keyboard tapping
Hold music on a telephone
Other frustrations are those who choose to chat on “Facebook” whilst pretending to be incredibly busy.
Some go to use the bathroom at a specific time of day, every day.

Are we right to feel so annoyed or have we all just lost patience?

Be “Proactive” and "think outside the box", when buying travel insurance visit http://www.holidaysafe.co.uk/ for the best travel Insurance

“And the nominations are.....”

2010-02-22T16:51:00.062Z

This week the Bafta( British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Awards took place at London's Royal Opera House.
British actor Colin Firth winning best actor for " A Single Man" and British actress Carey Mulligan, best Actress for "An Education".

The Oscar's is only twelve days away, and for many people, a social event of the Year.
You may like to watch it because you like to see your favourite actor win an award, or to watch the celebrities walk down the red carpet, either loving their designer dress or asking yourself what were they thinking?
Among the many nominations here is a short list of Feature films with two or more nominations:

Film/Nominations

"Avatar"9
"The Hurt Locker"9
"Inglourious Basterds"8
"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire"6
"Up in the Air"6
"Up"5
"District 9"4
"Nine"4
"Star Trek"4
"Crazy Heart"3
"An Education"3
"The Princess and the Frog"3
"The Young Victoria"3
"The Blind Side"2
"Fantastic Mr. Fox"2
"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus"2
"Invictus"2
"The Last Station"2
"The Messenger"2
"A Serious Man"2
"Sherlock Holmes"2
"The White Ribbon"2

And for best travel insurance go to http://www.holidaysafe.co.uk/
Source: www.oscar.go.com

Pancake Day

2010-02-19T09:05:00.018Z

Tuesday 17 was Pancake day, here are a few interesting facts:

The Worlds largest pancake was cooked in Rochdale in 1994, it was 15 metres in diameter,and weighed three tonnes and was estimated to contain 2 million calories.!

Pancake day is on a different date every Year depending on when Easter Sunday falls, it can be as early as 4 February and as late as 10 March
Pancake day is always the day before Ash Wednesday, Ash Wednesday is also the start of "Lent", Lent means to give up something and lasts 46 days (40 excluding Sundays)
Ash Wednesday gets its name from the placing of ashes on your forehead ,as a sign of repentance.
One Indulgence Christians wanted to give up for lent was rich foods, eggs, sugar and butter, so they would use all the ingredients up, hense where pancakes come from.
Shrove Tueasday, the word shrove (Shrive) means to confess it was believed they would be forgiven.
The last day of lent is Eater Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday.

Here are a few ideas for could give up for lent:

1 Alcohol
2 Swearing
3 Meat
4 Impulse shopping
5 Junk Food
6 Facebook
7 Smoking
8 Gambling
9 Television
10 Over use of the Credit card

If you succeed and wish to treat your self to a holiday, never give up
buying travel insurance, for the best travel insurance or to buy travel insurance go to www.holidaysafe.co.uk

Hazardous Activity Travel Insurance

2010-02-12T16:11:00.005Z

When applying for an insurance quote the type of holiday and the destination are usually how a quote is calculated.
For some sporting activities standard cover is not enough.
You may not think hot-air ballooning would require extra cover, but your travel insurance company could well disagree.
If you are participating in any of the Hazardous activities that are shown directly below these may require an extra premium to be paid.

American Football
Football - Amateur
Micro Lighting
Skiing/snowboarding
Ballooning - Hot Air
Gliding
Mountaineering up to 3,000m
Sky Diving
Biathlon
Hand Gliding
Parachuting
Trekking up to 3000m
Boxing Training
Hockey
Paragliding
Bungee Jumping
Jet Skiing
Rugby (amateur game)
Flying crew/pilot
Martial Arts (Training Only)
Scuba Diving to 30m

For the best travel insurance quote and to buy travel insurance
go to www.holidaysafe.co.uk

Rugby Facts

2010-02-09T16:28:00.013Z

With the 6 Nations rugby kicking off this weekend just gone,
Here are a few interesting facts:

Rugby union has been governed by the International Rugby Board since its formation in 1886 and currently has a membership of 115 national unions. In 1995, the IRB removed restrictions on payments to players, making the game openly professional at the highest level for the first time.

The Rugby World Cup, first held in 1987, takes place every four years, with the winner of the tournament receiving the Webb Ellis Cup.

The Six Nations in Europe and the Tri Nations in the southern hemisphere are major international competitions held annually. Major domestic competitions include the Top 14 in France, the Guinness Premiership in England, the Currie Cup in South Africa, and the Air New Zealand Cup in New Zealand.

Other transnational competitions include the Magners League (which is essentially a domestic competition throughout the Celtic Nations), involving Irish, Scottish and Welsh teams; the Super 14, involving South African, Australian and New Zealand teams; and the Heineken Cup, involving the top European based teams of their respective domestic competitions.

RBS 6 Nations Fixtures & Results

Date Time Country Score Stadium
Sat 6th Feb 2010 10:30 Ireland 29 - 11 Italy Croke Park
Sat 6th Feb 2010 17:00 England 30 - 17 Wales Twickenham
Sun 7th Feb 2010 15:00 Scotland 9 - 18 France Murrayfield
Sat 13th Feb 2010 14:00 Wales v Scotland Millennium Stadium
Sat 13th Feb 2010 16:30 France v Ireland Stade de France
Sun 14th Feb 2010 14:30 Italy v England Stadio Flaminio
Fri 26th Feb 2010 20:00 Wales v France Millennium Stadium
Sat 27th Feb 2010 13:30 Italy v Scotland Stadio Flaminio
Sat 27th Feb 2010 16:00 England v Ireland Twickenham
Sat 13th Mar 2010 14:30 Ireland v Wales Croke Park
Sat 13th Mar 2010 17:00 Scotland v England Murrayfield
Sun 14th Mar 2010 14:30 France v Italy Stade de France
Sat 20th Mar 2010 14:30 Wales v Italy Millennium Stadium
Sat 20th Mar 2010 17:00 Ireland v Scotland Croke Park

If you are fortunate enough to be going to watch any of the above games do not forget to
Buy Travel Insurance, please visit http://www.holidaysafe.co.uk/

Source:http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/matchcentre/match-centre_fixtures-results.php and wikipedia.com

Top 10 Romantic Cities

2010-02-03T15:59:00.011Z

If you can not decide where to take your loved one for valentines day , here are the top ten most romantic cities

Paris
The capital of France, Paris is one of the most romantic cities in the world. The 'City of Light', as Parisians call it, is also known for its literature and fine cuisine. If you are a lover of good wine and fond of desserts, there can not be a better place than Paris. There are numerous tourist attractions in Paris, not to forget Eiffel tower, where you can declare your love to your beloved!!

Venice
Venice proves to be an utmost delight for lovers. Also called the 'Floating City', it promises to offer you unique water landscapes, along with the mystic greenery. An irresistible charm that the city exudes along with its perfect ambience is a major turn-on for any couple.

San Francisco
Are you ready to explore the best of nature? San Francisco is sure to provide something to match to the liking of all. The glorious greens of the Golden Green Park, the breezy stroll at the waterfront or the exciting ride at the colorful wooden cable car, the options are too many for the love birds to explore. It is the ultimate destination for a couple to revel in the natural beauty and have a great time!

Boston
Boston is the seat or the cultural center of the entire New England region. While the city has a rich and affluent historic significance, it also exudes the ambience of the present generation. Boston looks extremely beautiful in the snow and winter is the right time for a couple to go there, when the cold is enough to make you want to snuggle and remain close to each other.

New York
Whether it’s proclaiming your love at the top of the Empire State Building or exploring the city in a luxurious carriage ride or even touring the Statue of Liberty, New York rightly poses to be one of the most romantic cities in the world. From historic landmarks to Broadway theaters to hundreds of museums, the city has it all for lovers to take pleasure in.

Vienna, Austria
Enthralling and ever-lasting, Vienna is sure to be a delightful destination for a couple. From the serene sunset spots to trendy love nests, you have a range of romantic options to impress your other half with. Get carried away with the romance of the place and make the holiday special for your partner.

New Orleans
There is something in the air of New Orleans that makes the place so romantic for a couple. While cruising in the ship or watching the city drift by from the deck of a riverboat are pure embodiments of romance, riding through a carriage in the arms of your lover, crossing the French effigy, is not far behind. The place is a beauty for lovers to spend their vacation in.

Monte-Carlo
Attractive and appealing, Monte-Carlo strikes just the right chord of romantic essence that lovers dwell in. The city is beautiful with its breathtaking landscapes and idyllic beaches. The extension of Monte-Carlo into rock and sea will gives you the perfect opportunity to spend some tranquil moments with your better half.

London
Rated as one of the most happening place in the world, London is a great city to let romance take over. From the castles to the churches, palaces to the cathedrals, ancient museums to lovely beaches, London has everything to bring you into the most romantic mood.

Melbourne
Melbourne is the perfect place to bask in the glory of love. A mystical quality that is attached to the city lends it the tag of being one of the top romantic cities in the world. The ambience of the city is great and is sure to extend a flame of emotions and passions in your love life.

Whether it be Paris, London or Melbourne you can buy travel insurance at http://www.holidaysafe.co.uk/

Source:http://www.everythingvalentinesday.com

A Few Days Away

2010-01-29T15:34:00.003Z

Each Year in Britain we spend around £503m on cards,flowers chocolates and other gifts for Valentines Day.
Many of us drawn into the facade and may wish to take our partners on a romantic mini break, either to re-assure our love , or even to propose marriage. This Year probably without exception as it falls within a Weekend.

However when we decide to surprise our loved ones with a few days away, whether it be Valentines Day or at any time of Year, do we think about insuring our-selves?
Most of us would only consider insurance if we were away for more than a weeks duration. Imagine planning to travel to beautiful Paris for a long weekend, and finding yourself delayed or not being able to propose because the ring was in the suitcase that got lost at the airport. This would not be the relaxed, romantic few days you had hoped for.

You can purchase single-trip travel insurance from as little as £4.92, for a quote or to buy travel insurance visit www.holidaysafe.co.uk

Posted by Holidaysafe.co.uk

Travel Insurance for Motorcycle riders

2010-01-25T11:58:00.002Z

For road and track loving motorcycle riders, the winter represents a frustrating time of poor weather (although the summer is often not much better in the UK) and a distinct lack bike racing. All is not lost, the gloom of winter will begin to lift soon (some of the holidaysafe team managed a few hours out on bikes on Sunday) and with only one month left until the opening round of the World superbikes calendar, there are reasons to be cheerful! Clearly there will not be many Brits lucky enough to make the trip to the Australian opening round, but with no fewer than 18 rounds across the World Superbike and Moto GP championships that we think are definitely rider-able, here is something to look forward to:

World Superbike and Moto GP rounds, by date:

26 Feb to 28 Feb - World Superbikes - Phillip Island, Australia
26 Mar to 28 Mar – World Superbikes - Portamao, Portugal
9 April to 11 April – World Superbikes - Valencia, Spain
9 April to 11 April – Moto GP – Losail Circuit, Qatar
23 April to 25 April – World Superbikes – Assen, Netherlands
23 April to 25 April – Moto GP – Motegi, Japan
7 May to 9 May – World Superbikes – Monza, Italy
14 May to 16 May – World Superbikes – Kyalami, South Africa
21 May to 23 May – Moto GP – Le Mans, France
29 May to 31 May – World Superbikes - Miller Motorsport, USA
4 June to 6 June – Moto GP – Mugello, Italy
18 June to 20 June – Moto GP – Silverstone, Great Britain
24 June to 26 June – Moto GP – Assen, Netherlands
25 June to 27 June – World Superbikes - Misano Adriatico, San Marino
2 July to 4 July - Moto GP – Circuit de Catalunya, Catalunya
9 July to 11 July – World Superbikes - Brno, Czech Republic
16 July to 18 July – Moto GP – Sachsenring, Germany
23 July to 25 July – Moto GP – Laguna Seca, USA
30 July to 1 Aug – World Superbikes - Donnington Park, Great Britain
13 Aug to 15 Aug – Moto GP – Automotodrom, Czech Republic
27 Aug to 29 Aug – Moto GP – Indianapolis, USA
3 Sept to 5 Sept – World Superbikes – Nurburgring, Germany
3 Sept to 5 Sept – Moto GP – Misano, San Marino
17 Sept to 19 Sept - Moto GP – Balatonring, Hungary
24 Sept to 26 Sept – World Superbikes – Imola, Italy
1 Oct to 3 Oct – World Superbikes - Magny Cours, France
8 Oct to 10 Oct - Moto GP – Sepang Circuit, Malaysia
15 Oct to 17 Oct – Moto GP – Phillip Island, Australia
29 Oct to 31 Oct – Moto GP – Estoril, Portugal
5 Nov to 7 Nov – Moto GP – Comunitat Valenciana, Valencia

For those planning to attend a foreign trip on your bike, regardless if it is for a motorcycle championship, just a dash for some winter sun or a vacation - don’t forget to buy travel insurance which will cover you whilst riding your bike. Many travel insurance policies have exclusions for riding motorcycles with a capacity of more than 125cc. Those that will cover motorcycle riders, many charge an additional premium. Holidaysafe.co.uk however, offer travel insurance for motorcycle riders at standard premiums, regardless of the size of bike, as long as you are licensed to ride the bike in the UK.
With one weeks motorcycle riders travel insurance starting from a reasonable £7.50, can you afford to be without it!
For a quote, or to buy travel insurance click here.

Motorcycle travel insurance

2010-01-21T16:16:00.002Z

Motorbike riders see motorcycling as more a way of life than a hobby! Those of us with bikes invariably end up abroad on them at some time in our biking lives. Regardless of whether that is a weekend across to France on the Eurotunnel or an more adventurous trip across America travel insurance is that covers you for riding is imperative. Many travel insurance policies will not cover you for riding a motorcycle with a greater capacity than 125cc. Of those that do, they only cover you if you pay an additional premium.

Holidaysafe.co.uk has a number of staff who are avid motorcycle riders. As a result we have written all our travel insurance products to include riding any capacity bike for which you are licensed to ride in the UK at standard prices. As such, someone requiring motorcycle travel insurance for two weeks in Europe could get a policy for as little as £8.01 without cancellation cover or from £9.41 with cancellation cover. For those lucky enough to get abroad on their bikes more frequently, holidaysafe.co.uk has a number of biker friendly travel insurance policies starting from only £17.95, which would allow you as many European trips as you like as long as no one trip exceeds 31 days in duration. If it does, have a look at our longstay travel insurance policies which will also cover motorcycle riders travelling abroad on their bikes.

To get a quote for travel insurance suitable for motorcycle riders travelling abroad, or to buy travel insurance click here.

Haiti diaster 2010

2010-01-18T10:06:00.005Z

After the magnitude 7.0 quake that struck about 10 miles southwest of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince on the 12 Januray 2010 killing as many as 50,000 people and injuring many more, there have been further reports of a breakdown in law and order. The Haitian authorities are in a state of disorganisation, and travellers should take extra care whilst travelling, particularly at night. There have been reports of attacks on travellers on the main road between Port-au-Prince and the border with the Dominican Republic. There have been random shootings of civilians in incidents of street robbery. Foreign nationals have also occasionally been caught in the crossfire of gang violence.

Haiti has had its fair share of natural disasters:
1770 - Earthquake devastates Port-au-Prince
1842 - Quake destroys Cap-Haitien, other cities
1935 - Storm kills 2,000
1946 - Tsunami kills 1,790
1954 - Hurricane Hazel kills hundreds
1963 - Hurricane Flora kills 6,000 in Haiti and Cuba
1994 - Hurricane Gordon kills hundreds
1998 - Hurricane Georges destroys 80% of crops
2004 - Floods kill 2,600
2004 - Tropical Storm Jeanne kills 1,900
2007 - Tropical Storm Noel triggers mudslides, floods
2008 - Three hurricanes and tropical storm kill 800
2010 - Quake hits Port-Au-Prince, killing thousands
Sources: AP, US Geological Survey

The Foreign and Commonwealth office (FCO) are currently advising against all but essential travel to Haiti. There are media reports of a large number of casualties and of extensive damage to infrastructure, including buildings in the Port au Prince area. British nationals in Haiti are requested to contact the British Embassy in Santo Domingo on telephone number 001 809 472 7111 or by email at: brit.emb.sadom@codetel.net.do to confirm their wellbeing. If you are a worried relative in the UK, you should contact the Foreign Office on 020 7008 1500.
British nationals in Haiti who want to be evacuated and have a valid passport should make their way to the airport and go to the British Consular Reception Centre. British nationals without a passport should go to the British Consular Reception Centre at the Canadian Embassy.

The FCO are recommending that those that are travelling to the region should obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. It should be noted however that most travel insurers in the UK have a standard restriction in their policy wordings where someone is travelling against the advice of the FCO. You should therefore check this point with your choosen insurer before you buy travel insurance.

Some Key facts about Haiti:
Full name: Republic of Haiti
Population: 10 million (UN, 2009)
Capital: Port-au-Prince
Area: 27,750 sq km (10,714 sq miles)
Major languages: Creole French
Major religion: Christianity
Life expectancy: 59 years (men), 63 years (women) (UN)
Main exports: Light manufactures, coffee, oils, mangoes

Those people wishing to donate to the Haiti appeal can do so via:
Christian Aid
Oxfam
Unicef

holiday cancellation cover

2010-01-13T12:07:00.002Z

Travel Insurance is usually always thought about in terms of having cover should something go wrong when you are on your trip. This can be further reduced to most people just thinking about the costs of medical treatment abroad.

An often underestimated element of cover that travel insurance policies offer is holiday cancellation cover. Cancellation cover is the element of the policy which covers you before your trip against financial loss as a result of not being able to travel. Examples of this include:

• You falling ill before your trip commences resulting in you not being able to travel
• You having an accident before your trip commences resulting in you not being able to travel
• You being delayed at the airport for more than 24 hours and as a result choosing to abandon your trip.
• Your death, or the death of a close relative, travelling companion or business associate

Whilst not the most pleasant of things to have to think about, failure to have holiday cancellation cover in place could result in you losing all or some of your holiday costs that you have paid out, or have committed contractually to pay. We are often asked when people should buy their policy and have cancellation cover in place. The easy answer is as soon as you have paid any monies towards the cost of your trip. The policy will then be in place all the way until your planned travel dates.

As with all travel insurance products, there are terms and conditions that apply and you must read the policy wording. The most relevant will be relating to pre-existing medical conditions that you or your travelling companions may have. These must always be declared to the insurance company, as failure to do so may result in your policy not paying out in the event of a claim.

If you are looking to buy holiday cancellation cover as part of a travel insurance policy, why not click on the following links to get a travel insurance quote or to buy travel insurance from holidaysafe.co.uk.

2010 Sporting Events

2010-01-11T09:49:00.004Z

A brief round up of some notable sporting events happening in 2010:

Polo World Cup on snow – St Moritz - Throughout January
St Moritz, Switzerland hosts the 2010 Polo World Cup. Traditionally considered a British elite pastime, polo walks a delicate line between power and grace, human control and animal instincts, and the World Cup has no shortage of thoroughbred horses and equally well bred riders.
What makes this event extraordinary is that the whole game is played out on a snow turf covering the frozen lake of St Moritz, with the Alps looming beyond like a row of shark’s teeth.

Six Nations Rugby - Europe - 6 Feb - 26 March
The six nations playing in the tournament are England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales – and because of the notable exclusion of the big names in rugby hailing from the southern hemisphere it's considered to be the european championship. The competition layout is simple: each team plays each other once, if you win you get two points if you draw you get one, and the winner is the team with the greatest number of points at the end.

American Footballs Super Bowl – Florida USA -February 7th
The Super Bowl is the National Football League’s showcase as the National Football Conference (NFC) champion faces off against the American Football Conference (AFC) title holder. Not only does the Super Bowl display the best two teams in the NFL for the given season, it's also Christmas day for big time advertisers and companies across the nation. The pre-game show and the half-time show are usually rich with high profile stars: recently, artists like Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Prince, and Janet Jackson.

Winter Olympics – Vancouver - 12 – 28th Feb
In 2010 Vancouver and Whistler get to host the 21st (or XXI) Winter Olympics, a snow and ice festival including 86 sporting events. Some of the highlights will probably be the Luge, Figure Skating, Bobsleigh, Ice Hockey and Snowboarding – mostly because those are the sports that come up best for television viewers. The Opening and Closing Ceremonies are usually the biggest ticket events – and 2010 is the first time in Olympic history that the Opening Ceremony will be held indoors.

Arctic Winter Games - Grande Prairie, Alberta - 6 – 13 March
Canada is also the 2010 host of the Arctic Winter Games, which is like the Winter Olympics, but only for the proper winter nations. No part time snow nations take part, this games is strictly for the coolest of the cool: Greenland, Alaska, Russia's Yamalo-Nenets, the Sami Nations, and five Canadian teams, from the Yukon, Nunavut, Nunavik, the Northern Territories and Northern Alberta. And the events reflect the competing nations – as well as ice hockey, skiing and snowboarding, more traditional Inuit games, like the 'Alaskan high kick' and the 'head pull' are contested, and there are dog mushing competitions.

2010 Dubai World Cup – Dubai - 27 March
The Dubai World Cup is encapsulated in one fact: it's the world’s richest horse race with a purse of almost US$ 10 million going to the winner. The brainchild of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the Dubai World Cup is a fitting tribute to his love of horses, the gentlemanly sport of horseracing and of the accoutrements of wealth. Depending on your views you are either going to be bowled over by the event or offended by the decadency.

Kentucky Derby - Churchill Downs - 1 May
There are three places to experience the Kentucky Derby: Millionaire’s Row, the Infield and Turn One. On Millionaire’s Row you're up close to the spectacle with the trainers, owners and the odd celebrity. Turn One is more a family-picnic setting, but the Infield is where you’re likely to witness something not often seen at other race meetings.

The Grand National – Aintree - 8-10 April
The Grand National is one of the most famous steeplechases in the world, attracting a global audience of around 600 million viewers every year. The four-and-a-half miles are a thrilling spectacle as horses jump, tumble and sprint towards the finishing line, where glory beckons riders over the final resting place of race legend, Red Rum’s.
One of the few sporting events that can still claim to get the whole nation’s attention, with over £100 million being placed in bets in the UK

UEFA Champions League Final - Santiago Bernabéu Stadium - 22 May
2010 marks the 55th UEFA Championship League Final. No one knows which of the 76 teams in the competition will be playing in this high stakes final, but Barcelona are the defending Champions, and we know it's going to be played at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home of Real Madrid.

Monaco Grand Prix – Monaco -23 May
Few race tracks in the world have the glamour and prestige of Formula One's Grand Prix de Monaco. The circuit de Monaco speeds all over Monte Carlo’s city streets and famous harbour, and seeing the cars scream round the city - navigating the tight hairpins and passing the luxurious yachts - is an experience racing enthusiasts cherish.
Even though overtaking is nigh on impossible on the tight corners and narrow roads, the Monaco Grand Prix is often one of the most dramatic races on the Formula One calendar.

French Open - Stade Roland Garros - 24 May - 6 June,
Stade Roland Garros was built to host the 1928 Davis Cup final, but has become one of the finest sport venues in the world. The stadium has a foot in France’s tennis past, with many of the venue's features named in honour of famous French players and the strong ties to the past give the French Open a certain grandiosity only on the Grand Slam Tournament by Wimbledon.
But it's not all historic prestige, these clay courts are considered some of the most physically demanding playing surfaces around, and clay-court specialists such as Rafa Nadal bring the drama and the crowds.

2010 FIFA World Cup - South Africa - 11 June – 11 July
Since its return to the international world of sport in 1994, South Africa has hosted a multitude of major international events, from the Rugby World Cup to the Cricket World Cup.
26 international teams have qualified, and they'll play heated matches up and down the country, from Johannesburg to Durban, to Cape Town to Pretoria.

Wimbledon – England - 21st June – 4th July
Wimbledon has hosted some memorable tennis matches: the 1980 final between John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg which saw Borg come out on top, the 1999 final between Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi that some cite as the greatest display of grass court tennis ever, with Agassi remarking on his opponent: ‘today he walked on water’. There was also the 2008 final that saw Rafa Nadal overcome Roger Federer in one of the most fiercely competitive and brilliant matches witnessed. Wimbledon has its fair share of legends and these will rouse together again between June 21st and July 4th 2010 to create that special Wimbledon atmosphere at the SW19 venue.
There's more to Wimbledon than the great tennis. The atmosphere is one of a by-gone era, English tranquillity lingers still amongst the strawberries and cream before the roars of Henman Hill or Murray Mound, are heard backing the latest British hope.

Tour de France - France - 3 July - 25 July
The 2010 race, over almost 3,600km, will start with an 8km prologue in Rotterdam then run along the North Sea before heading into Belgium. The second stage chases through the Liège-Bastogne-Liège stretch, while leaders will have to be extremely cautious in the third stage, which features the treacherous cobbled sections, Paris-Roubaix. The 2010 Alpine stages aren't supposed to be too arduous, but theres's a one-stage detour in the Jura mountains which is expected to prove tricky and 56km of climb over the last 120km in the seventh stage to Station des Rousses. Those who survive the Pyrenees will then head to Bordeaux after the last rest day on 21st of July before a final individual, 51km time-trial to Pauillac through the Bordeaux vineyards. The end of the race always takes place at the Champs-Elysees, and reaching it unscathed is a supreme honour and triumph for the riders, leading to scenes of jubilation at the finishing line, followed by Parisian parties.

Henley Regatta - Henley - 30 June - 4 July
The 2010 Henley Regatta will be raced over five days, in a series of mile long paddling sprints contested by international teams, who will probably be enjoying both the history and charm of the event, and probably also appreciating the chic style surrounding it – think hats, nice dresses and clinking champagne glasses.

One Day International Cricket England V Australia: Lords England - 3 July
Over one hundred Test matches have been played at Lord's, the first in 1884 when England defeated Australia by an innings and 5 runs. Australia's first win was in 1888 by 61 runs – so a one day game between these two nations on this hallowed ground is pretty much a cricketing pilgrimage.

Scottish Golf Open: Loch Lomond - 8 – 11 July,
The Scottish Open has been held on the Loch Lomond course since 1996 and will be there again in 2010. Behind the course are the mountains and along the perfect edges of the greens are woods – but don't let the beauty distract you from the golf at hand.

Golf Open Championships - St. Andrews -15 - 18 July
'The Open' is the oldest of the world's major golfing championships – the 2010 event marks 150 years since the first Open was held. The purse is around £4.2 million for whoever wins on the 72 par St. Andrew's course, another historic golfing fixture.

US Open Tennis - US - 30 Aug – 12 Sept
The American fans are boisterous and good-fun, especially if a homegrown player such as Andy Roddick or a Williams sister is on court. Food is also something that the US Open does exceedingly well, from a host of exclusive restaurants and bars to the more straight-forward food village that has most types of food, no matter what you’re hankering for. Opt for exclusivity and you never know who you’re going to bump into, with a plethora of celebrities also popping up annually.

Commonwealth Games 2010 - New Delhi - 3-14 Oct
New Delhi's 2010 Games are only the 19th Commonwealth Games, and will be the largest sporting event Delhi has ever hosted. The popular-with-the-viewing-public Opening Ceremony will be held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, and huge attendance is expected, but tickets to some of the less well known and loved events are still available if you fancy seeing some Badminton, Lawn Bowls, Netball or Squash.

The Melbourne Cup - Australia - 2 Nov
An event so important and well loved that for three minutes a year pretty much everyone in the country is glued to their screen watching horses run around a track? It doesn’t matter if you don’t like horse racing, if you’re an avid animal rights activist or leader of a chapter of Gamblers Anonymous, if you’re in Australia at around 3pm on the first Tuesday in November, you’ll probably still find yourself in front of a telly.

The Ashes – Australia - 25 Nov - 7 Jan 2011
The 2010 Ashes tour hits cricket grounds in Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. Melbourne's MCG has great bounce and pace conditions for wickets and is the biggest venue with over 100 000 seats, while the Adelaide Oval is one of the most aesthetically pleasing venues with great wicket conditions.

Dont forget to buy travel insurance
If you are planning on attending one of these, or for that matter any foriegn sporting event, do not forget to buy travel insurance. Holidaysafe.co.uk can offer a week’s snowboard or skiing travel insurance in Europe for a 34 year old from as little as £11.26 without cancellation cover and a very reasonable £13.27 with! For summer based fun on the same basis we can offer policies without cancellation cover from as little as £6.78 and £9.17 with cancellation travel insurance.
Click on the link to get a travel insurance quote or to buy travel insurance

Seasons greetings from all at holidaysafe.co.uk

2009-12-23T15:55:00.004Z

So the big day is almost upon us again. As it draws near there will be the usual raft of people out buying those last minute Christmas gifts or making yet another dash to the supermarket for yet more food that will probably still be in the cupboards in the New Year. If your Christmas plans involves foreign travel to visit loved ones or just for a well earned holiday, don’t forget to buy travel insurance. Holidaysafe.co.uk has a range of products for you to choose from and for those that are travelling regardless, our special last minute travel insurance policy is as much as 40% cheaper as it does not have cover for cancellation risk.

Whatever your plans for the festive season, a very Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year from all at holidaysafe travel insuance.

Skiing or snowboarding without insurance?

2009-12-18T13:45:00.003Z

Recent reports from the travel insurance world suggest that millions of Britons will be travelling on winter sports holidays this winter, with inadequate or worse still no travel insurance.
Having just come back from a very enjoyable pre-season skiing trip with the varsity teams, we have some very recent and relevant experiences to suggest that travelling without winter sports travel insurance is a bad idea.

In the first week, we had no fewer than three dislocated shoulders – average cost £900, two severed tendons – average cost £1,600 and a fractured vertebrae – cost estimate £7,900. We were skiing in France, so the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) was applied (more on that in a moment) and there was fresh powder for the first part of the week so the conditions were good. Had the conditions been less snow and more ice, we would have expected a higher frequency of accident. It matters not as to your chosen discipline both skiers and snowboarders are at risk of injury, no matter what you level or experience. There are some very cheap winter sports insurance policies on the market, just be sure to check that they offer the level of cover you require.

I mentioned the EHIC earlier, a lot of medical treatment in resort will be carried out at the resort medical centre. These are usually private medical facilities and will not accept the EHIC. As such, minor treatments for strains, sprains and cuts can become very expensive. Our recent trip experience suggests an average of between £40 -£700. This cost does not include the piste rescue elements, which at their highest for our trip came in at a massive £690 and this was not by helicopter but by sledge rescue.

So whatever you ski holiday plans, don’t forget the need for ski holiday insurance.
Holidaysafe.co.uk can offer a week’s ski or snowboard travel insurance in Europe for a 34 year old from as little as £11.26 without cancellation cover and a very reasonable £13.27 with! So, for a little more than £10.00 you could be protecting yourself from £1,000’s of cost. To get a quote or to buy winter sports travel insurance try us online http://www.holidaysafe.co.uk/travel-insurance/winter-sports-travel-insurance.html

Prices correct 18/12/2009

Delayed arrival passengers now eligible for compensation

2009-11-20T16:40:00.002Z

Air travellers whose flights arrive at their destinations three hours late or more are now eligible for compensation.
Yesterday, the European Court of Justice ruled that the damage sustained by air passengers in cases of long delay is comparable with that of cancellation.
The Court said: “There is no justification for treating passengers whose flight is delayed any differently when they reach their final destination three hours or more after the scheduled arrival time.”
However, if the delay is caused by “extraordinary circumstances” airlines will not be obliged to pay out.
Such circumstances have to be beyond the control of the airline, meaning they could not have been avoided by “reasonable measures”.

Whilst this is excellent news for all airline passengers, it should be remembered that all foreign trips need the protection of good quality travel insurance as well. Holidaysafe.co.uk has an extensive range of travel insurance, why not get a travel insurance quote or buy travel insurance.

No excuse for not buying travel insurance

2009-11-06T16:11:00.004Z

Four of the most common reasons why people do not buy travel insurance and things to consider:

It costs too much
There is no end to the places you can go to buy travel insurance these days. From supermarkets to car repairers and everyone in between and with so much competition it is easy to understand why travel insurance is, compared to many other financial service products, such a bargain. Its hard to believe therefore why so many people feel that it is too expensive and so do not bother. With single trip travel insurance available for just a few pounds, this really is a surprise.

I am covered already
If this really is the case, that’s a good thing. However, many people believe that they have adequate cover, even when they do not. For example, relying on the EHIC card as your sole method of protection is risky as it may not cover the complete costs of any medical treatment and will not cover repatriation, cancellation, baggage and other such important sections. If you get “free travel insurance” with your bank or credit card, make sure it really is travel insurance and not a stripped back version of travel insurance to allow them to be able to give it away.

I forgot to buy travel insurance
This happens of course. But buying travel insurance, although not a compulsory act, should be second nature - much like buying car insurance is. If you really do struggle to remember, perhaps it would be wise to buy an annual multi trip travel insurance policy. This will cover you for the year and if you wish, will automatically renew, so you are never without cover.

I will never need it
Famous last words. Travel insurance is made up of many sections, although the three most claimed on are cancellation of the trip, medical expenses and lost baggage. Taking a chance on lost or damaged baggage is almost understandable, although when you add it up, you will probably be taking several thousand pounds of belongings with you. Medical expenses is however not one to gamble on, as an example, we have just paid a claim for £130,000. A man simply tripped in Florida, but was unfortunate enough to fracture his hip and arm. What would you do if you were faced with a bill of this size, without an insurer to cover the costs?

With travel insurance starting from as little as £4.00, why not give us a try and get a quote or better still, buy travel insurance.

Get fit for skiing

2009-11-01T17:06:00.005Z

Because, for most of us, skiing is a once a year experience you should think seriously about getting fit for the trip. Clearly we do not mean an Olympic standard of fitness, doing just a few exercises regularly before leaving could help you to enjoy the skiing a lot more. Plus, for those people who are poorly conditioned prior to setting off to the slopes, very sore and aching muscles could ruin the fun and limit the amount of time that you will be able to spend skiing. That's not to mention that most skiing accidents and injuries occur in the afternoon and many can be attributed to tiredness as a result of the morning exertions.

There are many ways to get started, from ski based yoga to more traditional aerobic exercises such as running. Everyone should be able to find an enjoyable way to improve their fitness ready for their skiing holiday. There are three key areas of skiing fitness that all training sessions should focus on, these are strength, flexibility and aerobic capacity.

There are many training program's that you can follow on the Internet, or if you are a member of a gym, speak to one of the instructors as they should be able to tailor a fitness program especially for you and the holiday. You don't have to be a gym member however, there are plenty of things you can do in the comfort of your own home, from walking the stairs a few extra times each day to exercise DVDs and even the wii fit! Whatever you plan on doing you should ideally start at least seven weeks before you leave.

Don't forget to buy travel insurance

With one weeks European cover starting from a very reasonable £14.67 for skiing, snowboarding and wintersports travel insurance, can you afford to be without it. To get a quote or to buy travel insurance, please go to our winter sports insurance page.

Skiing and snowboarding etiquette

2009-10-22T18:17:00.004+01:00

If you are new to the slopes there are a few things that it is useful to know before heading out…

A. Always stay in control, and be able to stop or avoid other people or objects.

B. People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them.

Also…Be aware of your surroundings! Keep your head on a swivel and know where others are regardless of who has the right of way.

Also…When passing fast, give wide berth to slower skiers/boarders.

C. You must not stop where you obstruct a trail, or are not visible from above.
Also…On paths, do not take up the entire width by zigzagging. Respect others moving at different speeds than you are.

D. Whenever starting downhill or merging into a trail, look uphill and yield to others.

E. Always use devices to help prevent runaway equipment.

F. Observe all posted signs and warnings. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.

G. Prior to using any lift, you must have the knowledge and ability to load, ride and unload safely.

Also…Do not stop or congregate in the lift line to wait for friends or adjust equipment. Wait for friends BEFORE you get into the lift line, not where the chair is loading.

Also…When it is your turn to load, move forward and get on the chair. Do NOT wait for others or let a chair go by when people are waiting behind you.Also…Always warn others when bringing down the safety bar on the chairlift.

Also…If skiing alone, move forward to fill up the next available chair if there are people waiting in line behind you.

Also…If you fall while loading or unloading, your FIRST priority is to move yourself and equipment away from the landing area and allow others to keep moving.

Also…If you drop something while riding on the chairlift, don’t jump out to get it. You will often be higher than you imagine.

Lastly, don't forget to buy travel insurance

With one weeks European cover starting from a very reasonable £14.67 for skiing and snowboarding wintersports travel insurance, can you afford to be without it. To get a quote and to buy travel insurance, please click here.

Summer is over – Winter is coming

2009-10-19T09:05:00.002+01:00

It is safe to say that the beloved English summer is at an end for 2009. With what seems like an eternal wait for next year’s few days of summer sun. Attention begins to turn to Christmas. I notice that the supermarkets have begun to display the usual Christmas goodies already – seems to get earlier every year! For many the passing of summer is not all doom and gloom as attentions turn to skiing and snowboarding holidays.

A poll carried out by holidaysafe.co.uk revealed that nearly 1 in 5 people who were considering skiing holidays this year were planning not to buy travel insurance in order to save money. Even if you have been lucky enough not to have had an accident on the slopes you have probably been witness to some. Let’s face it, part of the appeal of skiing and snowboarding is the element of danger it presents. As with anything that presents an increased risk, so come accidents and invariably injury. There are very few state hospitals around the slopes meaning that you will not be able to use an EHIC card, so unless you have good winter sports travel insurance you could be left facing hefty bills. Even if you are lucky enough to find yourself in a public hospital, the EHIC will not cover the transport down the mountain and to the hospital. So if you end up with a helicopter evac down you could be looking at several thousands of pounds.

You have to ask yourself is it worth the small saving you may make if you do not buy travel insurance. Holidaysafe.co.uk can offer a week’s skiing and snowboarding insurance cover in Europe from as little as £14.67. A small price to pay for the peace of mind you will have when enjoying yourself on the slopes.

For a quote or to buy travel insurance, please click here.

Can I get travel insurance if I have hypertension?

2009-10-05T13:02:00.002+01:00

Hypertension or high blood pressure affects more than 20% of the UK population – that in real terms is around eleven million people. Still however, many UK travel insurers decide to exclude cover for people with hypertension. One can only assume that this is as a result of lack of understanding, as in most cases hypertension is so well controlled that the actual risk to the insurer for the extent of the holiday is very low. Some argue that in fact people who have the condition and declare it to their travel insurer could well be a lower risk than someone who may have the condition but not know about it.

Holidaysafe.co.uk are pleased to be able to confirm that regardless of how you buy travel insurance from us (internet or call centre) the ability to medically screen for this and any other medical conditions exist. Both our online medical screening system and our call centre screening system follow an identical customer journey and will produce identical results. In the large majority of cases we are able to cover hypertension at no additional premium.

Unfortunately it is not possible to cover everyone on our policies and around 3% of our customers are referred to more specialist schemes. These will include people who have unstable hypertension, have only been diagnosed with the condition in the last few weeks or those who have had a change in medication in the last few weeks.

To get a quote or to buy travel insurance please click here

Are sports and activities covered on backpacker insurance policies?

2009-10-02T17:07:00.008+01:00

If you are off on your gap year to wild and exotic destinations and want to broaden your horizon's trying some adrenaline filled activities, do not forget to check what activities are covered when considering your gap year travel insurance policy.

When purchasing any type of backpacker insurance you must insure that the adrenaline filled fun you have planned will be covered and you are not left high and dry, possibly literally.

Activities such as bungee jumping , jet skiing and paragliding are unlikely to be covered as standard under many travel insurance policies.

It is likely that most backpackers travel insurance will only cover you for more standard activities, but if you really want to put your nerves to the test holidaysafe.co.uk has a hazardous activity option available that will cover you for things like paragliding, scuba diving to 30 metres and sky diving. All of the backpacker and longstay travel insurance policies that we do include a number of activities free of charge.

To get a quote, or to buy travel insurance please click here

Can you return home for a visit whilst on a backpacking trip?

2009-09-09T12:52:00.005+01:00

If you are planning a backpacking or longstay trip overseas but potentially returning home during the trip for a short period, regardless of the reason, most backpackers travel insurance policies will stop when you return to the UK. That's great if it is the end of your trip, but what about if you are planning on returning for a family members birthday, to collect exam results, or for any other reason and then want to carry on with your trip?

It can prove a rather expensive and inconvenient option to buy two or three travel insurance policies and have them running concurrently.
Holidaysafe.co.uk are pleased to be able to offer a solution.
On all of our longstay travel insurance policies and backpackers travel insurance policies we offer a return home option. You can select this as an option online or as part of a telephone booking.

Upon selecting and paying for the return home option, you will be able to return home during life of the travel insurance policy, without the policy permanently ending upon arrival back to the UK. Instead the policy is suspended until you board the plane on the way back to continue your trip. As well as the policy covering medical emergencies during the flights back and out again, the policy allows for up to three return home trips, as long as each trip does not exceed 31days. It is perhaps obvious, but worth pointing out that the insurance will not cover the costs of the flights home

To get a backpacker, longstay or gap year travel insurance quote or to buy travel insurance, please click here.

Backpacking in September...

2009-09-04T17:25:00.003+01:00

Looking for a starting point for a longstay or backpacking trip, how about...

Whale-watching tours are offered throughout the world, but only on the Tongan island group of Vava‘u can you actually swim beside the whales, a controversial if exhilarating brush with nature. Humpback whales come to these waters between July and November, and visitors to the town of Neiafu can board boats, cruise up to the whales and snorkel around them. It’s a controversial practice - some say the regular presence of boats and humans in the water disturbs the mothers and calves just when they are most vulnerable, and may force them to abandon the area before they are ready. One tour operator in Neiafu refuses to allow swimming for this reason. But many people who have swum with whales say they experience a sense of mutual curiosity, rather than alarm or distress.

Wherever your travels take you, don't forget to buy travel insurance. Holidaysafe.co.uk offers specialist backpackers travel insurance and gap year travel insurance from just 17pence a day. To get a quote or to buy travel insurance, please click here.

Source: http://www.gogapyear.com/september

Good Advice for Backpackers and Gap Year Travellers

2009-08-27T12:57:00.024+01:00

Stay Safe and Trouble- Free:

Get a good guidebook and plan your journey

Ask friends who have travelled for advice

You'll be most vulnerable when you first arrive, so book accommodation in advance for your first night away

If you go out at night, make sure you know how to get back to your accommodation, many hotels and hostels can give you cards that show you how to get back

Obey and respect the local laws - we can't get you out if prison if you get arrested abroad

Respect local customs and dress codes - you may cause offence and stand out as a tourist(and be a target) for thieves

Only change money in banks or legal foreign exchange bureaus - You do not want to be given fake currency, Keep a receipt of all money exchanges

Be very cautious about hitchhiking, especially at night - always travel in pairs and be aware that drivers may expect payment

Take a first aid kit, especially if you are travelling to remote area's

Send important information to your web-based email account for easy access

Visa's and Passports

Make sure you've got the correct work permits if you're planning to work whilst travelling you could face severe penalties or deportation if you work illegally

Do not overstay your visa - it could lead to a fine or prison. You can extend your visa in most places.

Do not forget to buy travel insurance

Holidaysafe.co.uk offer specialist backpackers travel insurance and gap year travel insurance from as little as 17 pence per day. To get a quote or to buy travel insurance please click here

Source: Foreign and Commonwealth office. For more information on backpacking holidays have a look at their website http://www.go.gapyear.com/top-tips